Affordable homes will be built on the Isle of Wight once again after unanimous approval was given to a scheme in Branstone.
The Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee on Tuesday gave permission for 42 affordable houses at the former school-trip destination, Branstone Farm Studies Centre.
Part of the government’s ‘Getting Building’ project, £2.4 million has been awarded for the site, which will also see most of the former farm buildings demolished and turned into office units for a rural business park.
Martyn Pearl, chief executive of Vectis Housing Association, which will be building the housing, said from the start of the scheme it was important to do justice to the ecology of the site, the biosphere designation for the Island and provide much-needed homes. He said:
“Affordable homes are absolutely critical on the Island at the moment and Vectis are key providers. They will be affordable, they will be for local people and we will look to not only provide homes but develop the community.”
One objector, however, said he found it difficult to understand why this location was suitable for 42 homes, as it is isolated and requires a car to get to local amenities, and questioned whether, if the land had been owned or developed by someone other than the council, approval would be given.
Another objector said there was no such thing as affordable housing as developers aim to make as much profit as possible and any references to it were a ‘music hall joke’. He said:
“This part of the Island is essentially rural and should remain so — the visual impact of such homes and businesses would detract from the rural scene.
Article continues below this advertisement
Affordable houses are those which are rented out at typically no more than 80% of the market rent for the property — but on the Island, it has been suggested it should be reduced further to around 60% as Islanders on low incomes cannot afford much more.
In the last 3 years, only 50 affordable homes have been built and planning officers said this development would hold ‘substantial weight’ in meeting the Island’s needs.
Councillor Clare Mosdell, the ward member, spoke passionately to the planning committee, asking them to approve the houses as this was a chance to ‘bring life back to Branstone’. She said:
“The number of families registered on Island Homefinder is 958. The number of children under the age of 18, who are not the applicant, in these families is 1,904.
“Please do not make me listen to discussions if there is a need in rural communities for affordable houses. Do not make me listen to if our health system can take anymore. This housing is for those already on the Island, already registered with the GP and already driving a car.”
Cllr Richard Hollis, a member of the committee, said he was not sure building any form of housing estate on farmland was preserving the rural character and did not want this development setting a precedent that it is ‘almost a free for all for building on agricultural land’. But he thought this was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Mr Pearl said development could start as soon as February if the grant from Homes England goes through.
More cars, more ruination for this Island.
Vote them out next time.
more benefit hutches for spongers to move into from other parts of the country, which means more council tax benefit paid to the island council from central government, as none of the tenants will be working. This translates into higher pay for the bloodsucking leeches at the council.
it is high time these councillors were spoken with on their own front door steps.
Ever more ghastly homes under the guise of ‘affordable’, in other words for those who work few hours, then claim tax credits to fund their offspring at the expense of the ‘state’ aka the rest of us all.
Surely, ‘In the guise of…’, not ‘under’? If you are going to pretend to be Lady Dunstanding please pay me the courtesy of using correct English. One is in a guise, short for disguise, not under it. Flattered you want to be me, however, if you knew Lord Dunstanding… You really would not take my name. Happy Christmas.
Not doubt it will be cheap and nasty housing. Where are all the children going to go to school that live on this site? There is no bus route in this part of the Island.
Ryde Reader,
If ‘social housing’ then often a s ingle parent (in name only for max b enefits) yet having an ‘uncle’ there each night. So with free rent, free council tax, often Unc. does a bit of ‘dealing’ and usually with a squi ffy child in the growing b rood, then b enefits, and ‘income’ is massive, and a d isability car is available for the parent, or ‘Unc’ to drive the children to school, not needing to rough it on ‘public transport’ for that is where the ‘working peoples’ children have to travel upon’
They think they are above all that, because tax payers money given to them shows they ARE.
Anyone IF honest on such estates will know that is true, yet not so keen to admit such.
taxis which social security will pay for, for the benefit scroungers
The world needs less people if we wish to save our countryside and the rapidly diminishing quality of life for us and all the wildlife here.
The UK is way to tiny to keep adding more to the huge number of people here without something paying on heck of a price.
Idiotts
Bah i newed it wen
it wuz al fieelds
ad gurt fat mare on it
spec thatll not chaingee
i sees em pushin bugys
to much famly aloowence
Only 8 objections to this build yet 7 People moaning on here at the moment unless you all put in objections you have no right to moan now permission has been given 8 objections in 150,000 population.
objections shouldn’t need to be put in – the council should not even be considering building any houses on the island as there is no need for them – all the are doing is encouraging deadbeat spongers from the mainland to move here and burden the island with their presence.
Spoungers from the mainland you unintelligent prat.
stu – perhaps you should spell “spongers” correctly before attempting to insult me – it makes you look really stupid.
Objecting as was shown in Ryde, even when it came from Ryde town council, made NO difference.
The c ouncil and d evelopers have already well rehearsed their answers anyway, and, should they not be able to convince by such, just use their ‘get out’ clause of saying it is what the Government wish us to build.
FACT.
If the c ouncil are making money, either by more council tax, to then take larger pay, expenses and pensions, which is easier out of a growing ‘pot’ of money, OR IF they are receiving large thank you cards from land owners and developers for giving permission, ANY objection will fall on very deaf ears.
VOTE them out.
Objecting doesn’t do anything. The council DO NOT take notice. Pillock.
This island really does have some vile people living here! I’d rather be salt of the earth honest than judgmental nasty and God awful nasty!
ferry leaves soon hammer – you could be on it if you don’t want to live here anymore
IH, Yes many of them God awful nasty are on the I.W council.
Hence being a small place with many people on here ‘knowing’ a lot about some of them, yet can only skirt around the truth, as without evidence it is impossible to tell it how it really is.
Yet that doesn’t make it right, so it is not always judgmental, but factual just hard to prove.
If you ‘knew’ someone smashed your car windscreen, but had no proof, it would be very hard to openly accuse them on a public bb.
Don’t change the FACT though.
Vote them out as would be hard to find worse.
What is the matter with the council. STOP ALL BUILDING ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Cut down the number of homes used as holiday homes.